Volume I · Shravan – Bhadrapad
August
Light, Warm & Immunity — Janmashtami Month
Varsha · monsoonVolume II plan for August →
The season
Varsha (peak monsoon)
| Aspect | In the book |
|---|---|
| Hindu months | Shravan – Bhadrapad |
| Ritu | Varsha (peak monsoon) |
| Weather | ≈ 25 – 32 °C, continuous rain, very humid |
| Agni | Weak — keep meals small and warm |
| Dosha | Vata at its peak; Pitta accumulating |
| Favour | Sour, salty, sweet in moderation; warm, freshly cooked, mildly spiced |
| Limit | Curd at night, uncooked greens, heavy fried snacks, cold drinks, day-old food |
In season
Vegetables
Lauki, torai, arbi, kakdi, kundru, karela, ginger, fresh turmeric, corn, bhindi
Fruit
Guava, pear, plum, apple (early), banana, papaya
Other
Coriander seeds, ajwain, tulsi
Festivals & observances
| Occasion | In the kitchen |
|---|---|
| Raksha Bandhan (Shravan Purnima) | Soft mithai: date–nut ladoo, kesar peda (small). |
| Janmashtami (Bhadrapad Krishna Ashtami) | Dhaniya panjiri, makhan–mishri, panchamrit; midnight prasad — keep portions tiny for elders. |
| Hariyali / Kajari Teej | Light ghevar piece; sattvic thali. |
Kitchen guidance
- Small, frequent warm meals; never reheat food more than once.
- Cook leafy greens thoroughly or avoid; prefer gourds, roots and pulses.
- Every lunch includes a digestive: ginger slices with rock salt and lemon before the meal.
- Watch for joint stiffness and low mood in elders — warm oil massage days, warm food, sunlight when available.
Daily rituals
- On waking
- Warm water with a pinch of ajwain or dry ginger
- At bedtime
- Golden milk with dry ginger
Seven-day menu
The week at the table
Monday
- Breakfast
- Moong dal dhokla · mint chutney
- Lunch thali
- Moong–masoor with fresh turmeric
- Arbi ajwaini
- Lauki–peas
- rice & phulka
- Jeera takra
- Evening
- Dhaniya panjiri · tulsi tea
- Sweet
- Seviyan kheer with dates (60 ml)
Tuesday
- Breakfast
- Ven pongal
- Lunch thali
- Adraki moong dal
- Torai–moong
- Kundru thoran
- rice & phulka
- Ginger–lemon slices
- Evening
- Roasted makhana
- Dinner
- Moong khichdi
- Sweet
- Panchamrit
Wednesday
- Breakfast
- Vegetable dalia upma · pear
- Lunch thali
- Ajwain kadhi
- Karela with jaggery
- Bhindi with coconut
- rice & phulka
- Coriander chutney
- Evening
- Corn soup
- Dinner
- Rasam · rice
- Sweet
- Makhan–mishri (1 tsp)
Thursday
- Breakfast
- Ragi porridge · banana
- Lunch thali
- Toor dal (mild)
- Kaddu khatta-meetha
- Corn–capsicum (soft)
- rice & phulka
- Amla chutney
- Evening
- Stewed pear
- Dinner
- Lauki–moong soup · phulka
- Sweet
- Date–nut ladoo
Friday
- Breakfast
- Rice idli · coconut chutney
- Lunch thali
- Moong–lauki dal
- Parwal sabzi
- Raw-banana poriyal
- rice & phulka
- Guava chutney
- Evening
- Ginger–honey tea
- Dinner
- Namkeen dalia
- Sweet
- Sooji sheera (40 g)
Saturday
- Breakfast
- Oats–moong porridge
- Lunch thali
- Whole moong (soft)
- Arbi ajwaini
- Lauki–peas
- rice & phulka
- Jeera takra
- Evening
- Steamed corn kernels with ghee & lemon
- Dinner
- Moong yusha
- Sweet
- Kesar peda (½)
Sunday
- Breakfast
- Soft besan chilla · guava
- Lunch thali
- Panchmel (light)
- Torai–moong
- Kundru thoran
- rice & phulka
- Ginger–lemon slices
- Evening
- CCF tea
- Dinner
- Kanji with payar
- Sweet
- Rice kheer
Nutrition
Energy in the featured recipes
Energy from protein, fat and carbohydrate
kcal per serving (protein & carbs × 4, fat × 9)
This month's six recipes
Vol I · Aug 1August
Moong Dal Dhokla (Steamed)
BreakfastMonsoon
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
212 kcal12.9 g proteinSoft, spongy
View recipe →
Vol I · Aug 2August
Moong–Masoor Dal with Fresh Turmeric & Ginger
Lunch · DalMonsoon
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
168 kcal9.2 g proteinSoft
View recipe →
Vol I · Aug 3August
Arbi Ajwaini (Colocasia with Carom)
Lunch · SabziMonsoon
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
155 kcal1.8 g proteinSoft inside
View recipe →
Vol I · Aug 4August
Dhaniya Panjiri (Janmashtami)
Evening · PrasadMonsoon
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
94 kcal1.4 g proteinPowdery
View recipe →
Vol I · Aug 5August
Monsoon Clear Vegetable Soup with Ghee Rice
DinnerMonsoon
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
232 kcal4.4 g proteinSoft vegetables in broth
View recipe →Vol I · Aug 6August
Seviyan Kheer with Dates
SweetMonsoon
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
187 kcal6.4 g proteinSoft
View recipe →Signature dish